McKenzie has turned into a pretty well-behaved little thing, but walks on the lead are still a nightmare and I'm almost at the end of my tether.

Basically she just doesn't walk nicely on a short lead. She's very independent (some would say stubborn ). I occasionally have issues with her pulling forward on the lead but stopping until she slackens the lead usually fixes that.

The main problem is her stopping dead when she has found something to sniff or is watching something, often accompanied by pulling on the leash out to the side or back of me to get to something just out of her reach. She doesn't just do this sometimes, she does it for most of a walk - it's not just like stopping for a little sniff now and again. It takes forever to get anywhere because I spend most of the time trying to get her to go where I want her to.

I'm really out of ideas on what to do about this things. I've tried letting her stop and go at her own pace but then we never make any progress. I've tried forcing her to move (almost dragging her which I hated doing) to try to get her to learn that she needs to go where I want. I've tried treating her when she moves but she either isn't interested (even with really high value treats) or moves to get the treat and then stops again. She ignores 'leave' and 'heel' when she's doing this.

I'm really at my wits end. I see other people walking with their dogs trotting along beside them and I feel like such a failure that my dog doesn't do that! I should say that I'm 95% sure it's not an anxiety thing - she is just a very sniffy dog and loves getting stuck into a scent, and also likes to watch everyone and everything. Even the 3 minutes down the road to the park is a mission and takes at least 10 minutes because she stops to sniff every little thing. I almost wish I had a pulling dog - at least then we'd get somewhere!

Please help me

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Bobby is same sniffs everything on walk most of time i just let him sniff but if its busy or im in hurry i just pull him away and carry on walking or would never get anywhere

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life is not measured by the breaths wee take in a moment but by the moments that take our breath away...........

How about teaching a 'Let's go!' or 'This way!' command. Start in a low distraction environment and practise turning in an opposing direction, giving the command and treating/praising. Do this a lot in different environments. You can set up situations around the house where you throw some food down and when she strains to get it, say 'Let's go' and turn the other way and treat.

The next step, which is the most useful, is saying 'Let's go' on walks when she strains to sniff and as soon as she comes with you, reward her by turning back and letting her sniff the area she wants to. Repetitions of this will teach her that, for her to sniff where she likes, she needs to check in with you first. The 'Let's go' command can then be used to move her on, too.

I've tried 'lets go' with a treat which has had limited success but like the idea of then letting her turn back to sniff. I'll definitely try that.

I think maybe my first post wasn't clear - I know lot of dogs stop to sniff, my issue is that she just WON'T move come hell or high water. It seems like when other dogs stop to sniff they are easily moved along but when she stops, she stops, and she stops every 2 steps!

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The sniffing is more motivating than food, when she's out. Terriers will often follow trails of small mammals and such like.

Have you a chance to walk her with a male dog? One that she likes and has a bit more "go", but not way too much, so she gets intrigued by what he's found to investigate?

My guy would go for miles without slowing up, so some calm doggy moments with the Cairn & Westie terrier friends he meets are an appreciated influence!

You can also start counting "1, 2, 3 let's go" and after it you continue your walk - of course you have to pull your dog.
Counting is for allowing a dog to sniff but for short time. In the end when he learns command, he stops for a moment and will start to walk after the command.

I have to pull Bobby he still wont move from what he is sniffing at times, he may be small but try shift him no chance its terrier in them nose to ground at all times

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life is not measured by the breaths wee take in a moment but by the moments that take our breath away...........

Fit wheels and a remote?

My 2 Terriers are a nightmare, they want to sniff everywhere. I am trying to stop it, when the leads come off its 'their' time- also its easier then to pick up any poo, rather than struggling to do it in the street.

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So many good ideas - thanks! I particularly like the 1-2-3 thing. I also like the idea of wheels and a remote I shall be putting all your advice into practice - that's why I love this forum!

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